Dennis Kinney Explained

Dennis Kinney
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Birth Date:26 February 1952
Birth Place:Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 9
Debutyear:1978
Debutteam:Cleveland Indians
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 20
Finalyear:1982
Finalteam:Oakland Athletics
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:4–9
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:75
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.55
Teams:

Dennis Paul Kinney (born February 26, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or parts of five seasons in the majors, from until . He played high school baseball for Bedford Senior High School in Temperance, Michigan.

Kinney was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft, and he played in their organization through his major league debut in 1978. He was given a chance at closing games for the Indians, notching five saves in 18 games. That June, however, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Dan Spillner.

Kinney's one full season in the majors came in for the Padres. That year, he pitched in 50 games as a reliever, compiling a 4–6 record with a 4.25 ERA and one save. In December, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Dave Stegman, but appeared in just six games for the Tigers before being released in the offseason. After a brief trial with the Oakland Athletics in, his major league career was over.

On August 21, 1980, with the Padres trailing the host Philadelphia Phillies, 7–6, Kinney came in to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning surrendering a single and a run-scoring double to the first two batters he faced. The Padres rallied with 2 runs of their own in the top of the 9th inning to tie the score, 8–8. The relief appearance lasted 9 innings as Bake McBride's triple plated a run in the bottom of the 17th inning for the Phillies' 9–8 victory.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aug 21, 1980, Padres at Phillies Box Score and Play by Play. baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. November 30, 2014. August 21, 1980.